In this research, an effort is made to analyze the costs of fare collection on heavy rail and motorbus systems in the U.S. Since existing ticketing and fare collection (TFC) systems are major elements of transit infrastructure and there are several new alternative TFC technologies available on the market, the need to evaluate the performance of existing TFC systems arises. However, very little research has been done, so far, to assess impacts of TFC technologies on capital and operating expenses in public transit. The two objectives of this research are: (1) to formulate a conceptual evaluation framework and a plan to assess the operating costs of existing TFC systems in transit and (2) to analyze the operating expenses associated with existing TFC systems on heavy rail and motorbus transit in the U.S. with the aid of the evaluation framework and plan. This research begins with a review of the current state of knowledge in the areas of transit TFC evaluation, the economics of public transit operations, and fare collection practices and technologies. It helps to determine the scope of work related to assessment of TFC operating costs on public transit and provides the basis for the development of a conceptual evaluation framework and an evaluation plan. Next, this research presents a systematic approach to define and describe alternative TFC systems and suggests that the major TFC system determinants are payment media, fare media, TFC equipment, and transit technology (mode). Following this is the development of measures of effectiveness to evaluate alternative TFC systems. These measures assess cost-effectiveness and labor-intensiveness of TFC operations. The development of TFC System Technology Index follows. This Index recognizes the fact that TFC systems may consist of different sets of TFC technologies both traditional and innovative. Finally, this research presents statistical results that support the hypothesis that TFC operating costs are related to transit demand, transit technology (mode) and TFC technologies. These results further suggest that: (1) TFC operating costs per unlinked passenger trip on heavy rail systems are higher than on motorbus systems and (2) TFC operating costs per unlinked passenger trip tend to increase as the use of non-electronic fare media increases. Actions for further research are also recommended. / Ph. D.

The Atlanta region will soon be faced with a choice as to how it will go about planning for and implementing its next regional fare collection system that will replace the current BREEZE system. In 2006, MARTA became the first transit agency in the United States to implement an all contactless smartcard for use on its services. However, there have been many advances in new technologies and the consumer payment preferences have evolved since the initial implementation. These developments, coupled with the rapid consumer adoption of smartphones and changing attitudes within the financial payments industry towards transit properties, have recently led four major transit agencies within North America to implement new fare collection systems based on open payments, the development of mobile ticketing applications, or a combination. This research uses a case study methodology to answer several questions related to the planning and implementation of regional fare collection systems in Chicago (CTA), Dallas (DART), Philadelphia (SEPTA) and Toronto (TTC). Based on the experience of the case study agencies, the implementation of Atlanta's next fare collection system is sure to be a long and arduous process. However, by utilizing the lessons learned from DART, CTA, SEPTA and TTC, MARTA and the other regional operators (Cobb Community Transit, Gwinnett County Transit and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority) will be better poised to provide their patrons with additional means of paying fares while, at the same, minimizing the disruption to the existing fare collection system during the transition period.